Roof clamp



y 2 1941. H. E. JOHNSON 2,243,468

ROOF CLAMP Filed May 10, 1940 Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT orric ROOF CLAMP Henning E. Johnson, Everett, Wash.

Application May 10, 1940, Serial No. 334,434

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in roof clamps and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to firmly secure foot stays, straight edges, etc., to a shingle roof without the necessity of driving nails in said roof.

Another very important object of the havention is to provide a roof clamp of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for assisting the shingler in laying the shingles with the correct portions thereof exposed to the weather.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a roof clamp of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, showing a foot stay secured in position on a shingle roof through the medium of a pair of clamps constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the roof, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, a portion of the clamp being broken away in section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clamp.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be'seen that the reference numeral l designates generally a U-member of suitable metal. The U-member 1 includes a bight portion 2 having formed integrally therewith upper and lower legs 3 and 4, respectively.

The lower leg 4 terminates in a rounded free end 5 and said lower leg is suificiently thin to facilitate its insertion beneath a shingle 6 of the roof 1 from the lower end of said shingle. Then, the forward end portion of the lower leg 4 is provided with teeth or the like 8 which are adapted to bite into the lower face of the shingle in a manner to firmly anchor said lower leg therebeneath.

The U-member l is adapted to receive therein a conventional foot stay in the form of the usual two by four timber 9. Threadedly mounted in 1 the upper leg 3 of the U-member l is a set screw it which is engageable with the foot stay 9 for securing same in the member I.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the lower leg 4 of the member I is inserted beneath the selected shingle 6 and the foot stay 9 is then engaged in said member. The set screw I0 is then tightened for securing the foot stay 9 in the member l. Two or more of the clamps may be used for each foot stay. The set screw l0, when tightened, also assists in embedding the teeth 8 in the lower face of the shingle.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the U-member I comprises a comparatively long upper leg II. The free or forward end portion of the comparatively long upper leg II has formed therein a pair of longitudinally spaced, graduated sight openings I2.

When using the modification shown in Fig. 4, the lower leg 4 of the member I is inserted beneath a shingle and the straight edge (not shown) is engaged in said member. As is well known, shingles are usually laid with four inches thereof exposed to the weather. The comparatively long leg II of the member I is to be five inches long and the first and second marks H! are to be one-half inch and one inch, respectively, from the forward or free end thereof. If it is desired to leave exposed four inches of a row of shingles which have just been laid, the straight edge is positioned at the innermost sight opening I 2 and the set screw l 0 is tightened thereon. If an exposure of four and one-half inches is desired, the straight edge is secured at the outer or upper sight opening l2. Then, if a five inch exposure is desired, the straight edge is set flush with the free end of the comparatively long upper leg I l and secured. In other respects, the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is substantially similar in construction to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawing.

It is believed that the many advantages of a roof clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A roof clamp comprising a U-member including a lower leg and a comparatively long upper leg, said lower leg being engageable beneath a, same in position, the free end portion of said shingle of the roof and including teeth adapted upper leg having spaced sight openings therein to bite into said shingle, the U-member being to facilitate setting the straight edge in differadapted for the reception of a straight edge, and ent positions.

a set screw mounted in the upper leg and en- 5 HENNING E. JOHNSON gageable with the straight edge for securing g 

